Unrelenting Pakistan lobs six rockets into Indian territory

Published: Saturday, January 9, 2010, 15:07 [IST]

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Attari Sector (Punjab), Jan.9 (ANI): In a repeat of lobbing rockets incident in Punjab's border villages recently, at least six rockets were lobbed from Pakistani side in the fields near the villages around Attari sector, close to India-Pakistan border on Saturday.

Two of the rockets landed in Border Security Force post (Khangarh), about two kilometers from the international Indo-Pak border.

Meanwhile, in retaliation, Border Security Force also opened fire with machine gun and mortar fire towards Pakistan and also registered its protest over the rocket shelling incident with Pakistani rangers during the Flag meeting.

"At night around 12.00 to12.15 from Pakistan side around 5-6 rockets were fired. Out of which two fell near the BOP (Border Out Post). And sounds of two-three more explosions were heard. The rockets, which fell near BOP, did not explode and there have been no reports of damage to any human life or property," said Himmat Singh, the Inspector General (Frontier), Border Security Force, Punjab.

"At night itself we convened a flag meeting of commandant level with Pakistan Rangers in which we strongly protested against the incident. We have urged that they should strongly stop such attacks from their area. They raised objection that our force targeted their BOP and fired bomb on it, after this we have given them strict warnings that if such an incident is repeated then strong action will be taken by the border security force," Singh further informed.

According to available information, two rockets landed at the Khangarh post of the BSF at 12.10 a.m. but failed to blast.

Local villagers, however, said that they heard about six blasts in the border areas. Due to dense fog, Border guards are confronted with difficulty to carry out the search operation.

No casualty has so far been reported till now.

Notably last year (on July 5 and December 9), Pakistan had lobbed at least nine rockets towards India which were found in this side of villages namely Dhandae, Bherwal and Konake.

Indian authorities at that time also lodged their protest with Pakistan and told the Pakistani authorities to take adequate steps so that such incidents don't happen in future.

Pakistani authorities, however, denied their hand into the rocket attacks.

On an average, each village along the border holds an estimated 300 acres area of land beyond fencing. And, they have always cultivated their farmlands under the protection of the Border Security Forces (BSF) Jawans since 1990s.

The rocket shelling incidents have made villagers worried for life.

There have been several incidents of shelling or firing from Pakistan side of the India-Pakistan border in Attari sector of Punjab, including the latest witnessed on Friday night.

The latest incident has caused a sense of fear and panic among villagers. A lot of farmers, who own land beyond border fencing, are reluctant to visit their fields without security personnel.

"The rockets fell just in our fields. Our houses are also here. So it is a grave danger for us. Earlier also such incidents have taken place in our village," said Gurdeep singh, a local,

Farmers now want more security measures to be put in place to prevent such incidents and ensure safety from nuisance of Pakistan.

"After this incident at night, people here are scared. There is a feeling of anxiouness for safety among all the nearby villages as well here. Some people after the incident slept while keeping lights on but some were ready to leave their houses at night itself since many explosions occurred. People who were unwell and lying on their beds also got really shocked," said Rajinder Singh, another local villager said. By Ravinder Singh Robin (ANI)